Method for manufacturing of a stainless steel product having patterns and drawings thereon

ABSTRACT

A method includes a first step, in which a steel plate is shaped into a semi-finished product, a second step, in which a screen is stuck on the surface of the semi-finished product, and a protecting substance is applied on the product such that those portions of the product that are not covered with the screen have a protecting film thereon, a third step, in which the product is immersed in etching chemicals such that those portions that were covered with the screen, not protected with the protecting film, are etched to become recess areas presenting patterns and drawings, and a polishing step, which is performed after the etching.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing of a stainless steel product having patterns and drawings thereon, more particularly one, which includes shaping, bending and stretching a stainless steel plate into a semi-finished product, and an etching step performed after the shaping, bending and stretching step such that the etched recess areas presenting patterns and drawings can't crack, change shape or reduce in depth.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art

Referring to FIG. 4, a conventional method for manufacturing of a stainless steel product having patterns and drawings thereon includes the following steps:

(1) making drawings and patterns, and making a printing plate from the drawings and patterns;

(2) reproducing the drawings and patterns on a steel plate according to a screen processing method, and forming a protecting layer on those portions of the surface of the steel plate that don't present the drawings and patterns;

(3) immersing the steel plate in etching chemicals to etch the same such that those portions of the surface of the steel plate that present the drawings and patterns become etched recess areas;

(4) stretching the steel plate to desired dimensions; the recess areas presenting the drawings and patterns being so as to stand the stretching action;

(5) polishing the steel plate; and

(6) re-machining and finishing the steel plate.

Furthermore, the etched recess areas presenting the drawings and patterns are so as to be outstanding after the polishing step. And, the recess areas are so as not to crack in the stretching step.

However, the above method is found to have the following disadvantages:

1. Referring to FIG. 5, a steel plate 10 is stretched such that the length thereof increases by a larger percentage than the width does. Consequently, after the stretching step, drawings and patterns 20 on the steel plate 10 will change to the shape of those 20 of the new steel plate 30, which is less pleasant looking.

2. Each of the etched recess areas of a steel plate has to be of uniform depth otherwise it is prone to crack in the stretching action.

SUMMARY

It is a main object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing of a stainless steel product having patterns and drawings thereon such that the above disadvantages are overcome.

The method of the present invention includes a first step, in which a steel plate is shaped into a semi-finished product, a second step, in which a screen is stuck on the surface of the product, and a protecting substance is applied on the product such that those portions of the product that are not covered with the screen have a protecting film thereon, a third step, in which the product is immersed in etching chemicals such that the portions, which were covered with the screen, not protected with the protecting film, are etched to become recess areas presenting patterns and drawings, and a fourth step, which is polishing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be better understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of the first method for manufacturing of a stainless steel product having patterns and drawings thereon according to the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the second method according to the present invention,

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the third method according to the present invention,

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of the conventional method, and

FIG. 5 is view showing the look of a stainless steel product before and after the stretching step of the conventional method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of a method for manufacturing of a stainless steel product having patterns and drawings thereon includes the following steps:

(1) shaping: shaping a steel plate into a semi-finished product, e.g. cup, bowl, and plate, by means of pressing, punching, bending and stretching actions with machines;

(2) screen printing and forming a protecting film, in which a screen is stuck on the surface of the above semi-finished product, and a protecting substance is applied on the semi-finished product such that those portions of the semi-finished product that are not covered with the screen have a protecting film formed thereon; the screen being made so as to present certain patterns and drawings;

(3) etching: immersing the semi-finished product in a sink containing chemicals such that those portions of the semi-finished product, which were covered with the screen, not protected with the protecting film, are etched by the chemicals to become recess areas, which have the same shape as the screen to present the patterns and drawings;

(4) polishing and finishing: polishing those portions of the semi-finished product that are not etched such that the etched patterns and drawings are more obvious.

Referring to FIG. 2, the method in the present invention includes a fifth step after the above four steps, which is painting; thus, the finished product is colorful and more attractive.

Referring to FIG. 3, the method in the present invention includes a sixth step after the above four steps, which is plating on chosen portions of the product for making the same outstanding; thus, the finished product has better quality and looks precious.

From the above description, it can be understood that the method of the present invention has advantages as followings:

1. The shaping step, which includes pressing, punching, bending, and stretching actions, is performed before the etching step therefore etched drawings and patterns on a product made according to the present method won't change shape in such a way that the length and the width thereof increase by different percentages. Consequently, when a product is finished, the etched drawings and patterns thereon will remain in a pleasant looking shape.

2. When a product is finished, the etched drawings and patterns thereon will remain outstanding with enough depth because the etching step is performed after the stretching action.

3. The risk of cracking of a stainless steel product with etched drawings and patterns thereon is eliminated because the stretching action is performed before etching step.

4. The present method includes painting such that a finished product is colorful and more attractive.

5. The present method includes plating such that a finished product has better quality and looks precious. 

1. A method for manufacturing of a stainless steel product having patterns and drawings thereon, comprising steps (1) shaping a steel plate into a semi-finished product; (2) screen printing and forming a protecting film, in which a screen is stuck on a surface of the semi-finished product, and a protecting substance is applied on the semi-finished product such that those portions of the semi-finished product that are not covered with the screen have a protecting film formed thereon; the screen being made so as to present patterns and drawings; (3) etching, in which the semi-finished product is immersed in a sink containing etching chemicals such that those portions thereof that were covered with the screen, not protected with the protecting film, are etched by the chemicals to become recess areas presenting the patterns and drawings; and (4) polishing those portions of the semi-finished product that are not etched.
 2. The method for manufacturing of a stainless steel product having patterns and drawings thereon as claimed in claim 1 further including a painting step after the polishing step.
 3. The method for manufacturing of a stainless steel product having patterns and drawings thereon as claimed in claim 1 further including a plating step after the polishing step. 